Point Blank

Point Blank (1967) by John Boorman is a seminal film of the sixties, revising traditional Hollywood crime films with its mix of genres. Eric Wilson's study examines its significance to New Hollywood cinema, highlighting Boorman's exploration of a second connotation of "point blank" and its experimental style as a representation of trauma. Wilson also positions the film as a grimly comical exploration of toxic masculinity and gender fluidity. Its amplitude and influence qualify it as a classic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

John Boorman's 1967 film Point Blank is widely recognized as a seminal work of the 1960s, blending neo-noir, New Wave, and spaghetti western genres. Its enduring impact can be seen in numerous films throughout the decades, including Mean Streets (1973), Reservoir Dogs (1992), Heat (1995), The Limey (1999), and Memento (2000). Eric Wilson's insightful study of the film explores its significance to New Hollywood cinema. He contends that Boorman's revision of traditional Hollywood crime films goes beyond the surface level of violence, delving into the concept of blankness resulting from corporate America's unchecked dominance. Wilson argues that Boorman's experimental style represents a form of trauma and offers a potential remedy. He highlights Boorman's use of gesture over language and the blurring of boundaries between dream and reality, positioning the film as a comically grim exploration of toxic masculinity and gender fluidity. Wilson's close reading of Point Blank reveals it as a film that innovatively resonates with its own generation while also speaking powerfully to ours. He contends that the film's ability to span multiple generations and address significant themes qualifies it as a classic.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 190 x 136 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839025761